In the late 1850s, a farm worker in southern Veracruz, Mexico, was clearing woodland to make way for a cornfield. As he hacked his way through branches and shrubs, he came across a large stone structure that was partially buried.
The worker first assumed the stone was a large cauldron that had been tipped upside down, forgotten and covered in earth. But as he brushed away the dirt and dug around the sides, he realized the stone was intricately carved to resemble a giant head. It was deemed la cabeza colosal de Hueyapan.
In time, archeologists would find 17 more stone heads at four locations. Called the Olmec Colossal Heads, these ancient relics have helped historians learn more about the people who lived there thousands of years ago.
